The owners of the Saxon complained to the British Government of the capture of their ship. . . . It also appeared that during the seizure of the Saxon, her mate, a young Scotchman, had been shot dead, without the least provocation, by one of the officer of the Vanderbilt; and a claim for some compensation was made on behalf of his widow. On these point Lord Russell wrote to Lord Lyons: ----- . . . .

"As regards the murder of the mate of the Saxon, I have already instructed you, by my despatch of the 30th of January, to express to Mr. Seward the opion, by whom that murder was committed, should be brough to trial without delay; and you will further state to the American Minister that pecuniary compensation to the widow ought to form part of the redress which the Government of the United States should make for this atrocious act of their officer."

A Court of Inquiry subsequently held at Boston came to the conclusion that the shooting of the mate was unpremeditated, and must be regarded as a casualty. The American Government finally declined to make any compensation to the widow, under these circumstances, for the act of its officer.
[A Historical Account of the Neutrality of Great Britain During the American Civil War, Mountague Bernard, London, 1870, pp. 421/2]

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